"Barbara, use one of my trusts to purchase geological surveying equipment. I need to conduct a geological analysis of this Bat Island before making specific plans."
Batman didn't object to the Prophet AI calling North Brother Island "Bat Island"—that was part of his plan all along.
"Leave it to me, Bruce," the Prophet AI said.
Batman didn't linger on the island. He didn't even fully trust the Prophet AI; he personally ran a series of tests on the island himself.
Only after confirming that neither his body nor the island carried any viruses or toxins that could cause mass fatalities if they spread did Batman head to the rear of the Arkham Batmobile.
Under the Prophet AI's control, the Batmobile's rear compartment slowly opened, revealing a double seat equipped with metal restraint brackets.
This was the setup Batman used to transport captured criminals to the police station or prison after taking them down.
Whoosh!
With one hand braced against the Batmobile's armor, Batman's cape flared dramatically as he vaulted into the cockpit. The next second, Venom's little head popped out from his shoulder.
"Four chocolates!"
Batman reached out and shoved Venom's head back into his shoulder.
"I promised you, Robin, but be patient."
Batman was taking Eddie Brock back to South Brother Island to give him a thorough examination—from head to toe, inside and out—to check for any remnants of the anti-Venom symbiote in his body.
In just one minute, Batman returned from North Brother Island—now Bat Island—to the laboratory on South Brother Island.
Carrying Eddie Brock, who was wrapped tightly in earthy-yellow webbing, Batman stepped into the lab and immediately sensed something off.
Professors Connors, Banner, and Otto appeared busy, but Batman's sharp instincts told him their attention wasn't fully on their work.
At the sound of Batman pushing open the door, the three scientists turned their heads at once, eyeing the vigilante who had just returned from North Brother Island—a place that had housed nearly every deadly virus known to man for over a century.
Doctor Otto was working in the corner of the lab. He only glanced at Batman upon hearing the noise and didn't approach, as if wary of any viruses Batman might be carrying.
But Banner and Connors didn't care about that. One could turn into the Hulk, the other into the Lizard—mere viruses posed no threat to them.
Connors especially. He knew full well that Batman was Peter Parker, and he was the first to rush over.
With only one arm, Connors looked a little comical as he ran, but he didn't care at all. His face was etched with worry as he looked at Batman.
"Are you okay? Are you feeling any discomfort anywhere?"
Batman gazed at Connors, whose concern was written all over his face. His low voice carried a touch less of its usual iciness.
"I'm fine."
"Good, good…" Connors let out a sigh of relief. He pointed toward the corner of the lab, gesturing for Batman to look.
In the corner was something Batman recognized all too well: a complex apparatus made up of metal frames and various instruments—the very device Doctor Otto had been working on when he entered.
It was the same setup Connors had been strapped to when the Hulk ripped off his lizard tail.
Batman's entire face was concealed by the suit he'd designed specifically to counter Venom. As he turned to look at Connors, even though his expression was hidden, Connors could still sense a hint of confusion from him.
He quickly explained:
"When we learned you were heading to North Brother Island—crawling with every virus imaginable—to deal with that extraterrestrial creature, Doctor Otto spent all of last night and this entire morning modifying and adjusting it so it could run a full-body scan on you."
Batman looked toward Doctor Otto. The slightly pudgy middle-aged man gave a modest smile.
"I was worried you might bring back some viruses, so I tweaked these instruments… Truth be told, I was mostly looking out for myself. I don't want to catch whatever you might've picked up."
"Is that so? We don't see it that way," Banner chuckled from the side. "To make sure you'd survive even if you came back contaminated, Doctor Otto has practically conquered the entire field of virology overnight. He's the expert among us now."
Otto smiled without replying. The exhaustion from working through the night was impossible to hide on his face, but his gaze toward Batman carried a genuine softness that couldn't be faked.
Beneath his mask, Batman's expression remained unchanged. He had noticed Otto's unusual behavior.
When General Ross was overseeing Oscorp under military supervision, Peter Parker infiltrated alone to help Professor Connors transfer biotech data. Harry Osborn never hid that from the public.
Plenty of Oscorp researchers saw me in contact with Connors that day—it couldn't be concealed.
Doctor Otto is a smart man. He's probably already pieced it together from the way Professor Connors was fussing over me yesterday and suspects that I'm Peter Parker.
The old Otto only knew Peter Parker. He'd had little direct contact with Batman. Even here in the South Brother Island lab, he'd always treated Batman with polite distance.
Only if Doctor Otto has realized the man under the mask is the same Peter Parker who visited him time and again during his lowest moments would he now be pouring everything into helping Batman.
Batman silently deduced Otto's thoughts but didn't call it out.
He had finally managed to speak with Aunt May as Bruce, listening each week as the old woman shared stories she found amusing, nervously accepting her unconditional care.
But now, Batman was once again feeling something from Otto and Connors that wasn't quite familial—something more like the concern and heartache between friends.
Batman said nothing. He didn't know how to respond to their worry, so he simply carried the webbed-up bundle that was Eddie Brock over to the metal frame and instruments.
On the runway of LaGuardia Airport—just across Rikers Island from the South Brother Island where Batman and the others were—a small private charter plane touched down gently.
"Need me to contact Peter Parker for you?"
Silver Sable watched as Tony Stark, who had tidied up his beard and hair on the flight and changed into a fresh suit, spoke.
"No, I'll thank him in person later. I have something more important to take care of right now."
Tony elbowed the bearded man sitting next to him.
"Got a phone? Let me borrow it to make a call."
The bearded man patted his pocket, pulled out a Hello Kitty flip phone, and handed it to Tony Stark.
Tony examined the phone and casually remarked:
"Nice style."
He flipped it open and quickly dialed his personal bodyguard and driver, Happy Hogan.
"It's a gift from my daughter," the bearded man said with a grin, clearly pleased by the offhand compliment.
Tony clapped the man on the shoulder and raised the phone to his ear.
"Happy. I'm back."